Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, after doctors discovered a tumour in his right lung and removed its lower lobe through surgery.
Although lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, survival rates can be significantly higher when the disease is detected early, as appears to be the case with the Pope’s tumour.
What Is Lung Adenocarcinoma?
Lung cancer is broadly divided into two main categories: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for the vast majority of cases, with adenocarcinoma being its most common subtype.
The disease can vary in severity, with some tumours growing faster than others. Dr John Heymach of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston said that while lung adenocarcinoma remains dangerous, it generally has slightly higher cure rates than some other forms of lung cancer.
Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. However, as many as one in five lung cancer cases occur in people who have never smoked, with the reasons for some cases remaining unclear.
Other risk factors include exposure to radon gas, asbestos, radiation, second-hand smoke and air pollution, according to the American Cancer Society.
How Is Lung Cancer Detected?
Lung cancer often causes no noticeable symptoms until the disease has advanced. Possible warning signs include a persistent cough, chest pain, a hoarse voice, shortness of breath, and recurring pneumonia or bronchitis.
In some cases, the disease is discovered unexpectedly when an X-ray or other scan reveals an abnormal spot in the lung. This is known as an incidental finding and can allow doctors to investigate the tumour before symptoms develop or the cancer spreads.
In the Pope’s case, a lung nodule was detected during an examination for another reason.
In the United States, annual screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans is recommended for certain people at high risk of lung cancer because of a history of heavy smoking.
How Is Lung Cancer Treated?
Surgery is a key treatment option when lung cancer is detected early. It may also be used in some more advanced cases.
Pope Leo underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung in an effort to eliminate the cancer. The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung has two.
Dr Ben Zhang, a thoracic surgeon at Allina Health in Minneapolis, explained that the remaining lung tissue can compensate for the removed section by taking on some of its work.
Over several months, the lungs gradually adapt, and many patients experience little to no difference in their ability to exert themselves, particularly if they were physically active before surgery.
The Pope is known to enjoy weekly tennis games and swimming.
According to Zhang, the average hospital stay following lung cancer surgery in the United States is around two nights. Recovery depends on factors such as how quickly patients can walk, their pain levels and how long drainage tubes are needed to remove air and fluid from the chest.
Pope Leo was reportedly walking the day after his operation, which Heymach described as a positive sign that could indicate a quicker recovery.
Will The Pope Need Further Treatment?
Whether additional treatment is required depends on the tumour’s stage, size, whether cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes, and whether specific markers suggest the cancer may behave aggressively.
Possible treatments include chemotherapy, which may be given before surgery to shrink a tumour or afterward to target remaining cancer cells.
Other options include radiation therapy, immunotherapy and targeted drugs designed to attack specific molecular changes driving the tumour.
Doctors would need to assess these factors before determining whether the Pope requires further treatment.
